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T h e K i n g ’ s B u s i n e s s
September 1932
unior KING ’S BUSINESS . . . B y M a r t h a S. H o o k e r
but with hope that believes. She knew that the God o f Israel was able. It was not a new thing to her, this miracle. With what rejoicing Naaman must have entered his home again, a new man, cleansed o f the dreadful disease. Surely there was a time o f praise and thanksgiv ing to the one and only true God in the great captain’s home—and the little maid, don’t you think she joined with the others in praise to God? But suppose she had failed to give her testimony, even though she was but a little maid? Suppose she had failed in her duties so that her words were not believed? But I’m glad she didn’t, aren’t you? Even a Little Child is Known by His Doings Gypsy Smith, the evangelist, told this lovely story at one o f his meetings re cently. He had been speaking at a certain place on the new birth (John 3 ). At the close of the meeting, the altar call was given. Among those who came forward to believe on the Lord Jesus as Saviour was a young lad o f ten. Gypsy Smith watched this boy as he went into the inquiry room. He re membered that when he came to the Lord, no one seemed to have any interest in him, thinking he was only a poor gypsy boy. So he determined that the boy should know that there was some one who cared. Gypsy Smith went into the inquiry room and knelt by the lad. “Why are you here, sonny?” the evan gelist asked him ; and through his tears, he said, “ I heard you speaking on the new birth —I don’t know much about it, but I do want to be born again.” Then Gypsy Smith pointed him to the Lord Jesus who died on the cross in his place and stead. After a while, the lad said, “I think I see it—first you bring yourself to Jesus, then you leave yourself with Jesus and keep going on.” “ Yes, that’s it,” said Gypsy Smith, and the lad went away rejoicing in his new found Saviour. But the next night, the evangelist found him in the inquiry room again, his eyes shining like stars. “Why, sonny,” the Gypsy said, “I thought you received Jesus as your Sav iour last night.” “ I did,” the lad replied. “ Then why are you here tonight?” “ I came to bring my mother.” The next night, he was in the inquiry room a third time. “Sonny, why are you here again to night ?” “Oh, I came tonight to bring my grand father.” Three generations were won for the Lord because a little boy, who found the Lord Jesus as his Saviour, became a per sonal worker in his own home. “Whosoever shall confess me before men, him will I also confess before my Father which is in heaven” (Matt. 10:32).
The Little Maid 2 K in g s 5 p y h e w a s only a little maid in the home of a great captain, her name is not even given, but God has been pleased to record her faithfulness in His Word. Long, long ago, in the days when the land o f Syria was victorious in conquest, some of the Syrians went down into the land of Israel and carried away captive a little girl. What a terrible experience this must have been—to be taken from home and loved ones and native land, yet such things did happen in the days of conquest and war! Now in the land o f Syria there lived a great captain, Naaman by name. He was a very honorable man and a favorite of the king, for it was through him that the land of Syria had been delivered. But there was one very sad thing about Naa man; he had a dreadful disease called leprosy. No doubt he had tried the very best doctors of his land, but none could cure this terrible disease. It was in this home that the little maid was placed to serve the captain’s wife. O f course she soon learned of the grief o f the household, the shadow that hung over the great captain because of the leprosy. She must have often noticed her mistress in grief because o f it. And though this little girl was far away from home and in a heathen land, she did not forget the true God, the God o f Israel. She remembered, too, His prophet, Elisha, back in her native land; so one day as she was before her mistress, she made bold to speak, “Would my lord were with the prophet that is in Samaria, for he would heal him o f his leprosy 1” What hope in those words 1 Surely the household of Naaman had come to trust her, for the words of the little maid were soon carried to the king. Now the king loved Naaman and was anxious to have him freed from the dread ful leprosy, but this king was a heathen king and did not know the true God. He seemed to think the power to help Naaman lay in the hands of the king of Israel, so he sent Naaman off with gold and silver and costly clothing, also with a letter to the king of Israel saying, “ I have sent Naaman . . . to thee, that thou mayest re cover him o f his leprosy.” After a while, Naaman reached the king o f Israel and presented the royal letter o f introduction, but the king o f Israel could not help Naaman, though he was laden with gifts of gold and silver. He was really angry that the king o f Syria should expect help from him. Now Elisha, God’s prophet, soon heard o f the king’s anger and o f Naaman’s visit, and sent word for Naaman to come to him and learn that he was God’s true prophet. Then Naaman, with his many horses and chariots, came to the door of Elisha’s house. Surely Elisha would be awed by so great a company and would render rightful homage, but instead,
Wayside Flowers Just like fragrant wayside flowers Are the kindly deeds we do, Filling all the happy hours, With His loyal service true. Ministering the others’ need, Speaking aye a kindly word, Like a flower is every deed, Done as to our loving L ord ! Let us strive with glad delight To adorn this path o f ours, W e may make the journey bright With kind deeds, as wayside flowers. — E l s ie D u n c a n ,Y a l e . Elisha sent a messenger with this message, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times . . . and thou shalt be clean.” But Naaman, instead of receiving this message with joy, was angry. He had not received enough attention—and the Jordan river—were there not better rivers by far in his own land? He really did not want to obey. Then his servants drew near. “ If the prophet had bid you do some great thing,” they asked, “would you not have done it? How much more, when he says to you ‘wash and be clean’ ?” The words o f the servants seemed rea sonable; so, laying aside his pride, Naa man obeyed. Down he went into the water one time, two times, five times, and six times, and still he was leprous, but when he came up out o f the water the seventh time, be hold a wondrous thing had happened! His leprosy was gone, and his skin was as clean as that o f a little child. Then he came to the prophet o f God, Elisha, with this testimony, “ Behold, now, I know that there is no God in all -the earth but in Israel.” He would have given a gift to Elisha, but no, Elisha refused to receive it. God must have all the glory, and the washing that makes one clean cannot be bought; it is all a free gift. Back Naaman went to his homeland— the journey must have seemed very long considering the joyful news he was long ing to tell to his loved ones. Surely his wife was anxiously waiting for his return; and the little maid was waiting, too,
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